Air conditioner front panel with two-layer structure

ABSTRACT

An air conditioner front panel with two-layer structure for increased structural strength and cosmetic durability includes a support frame and a protective cover. The support frame has a mounting bracket. The mounting bracket has a front surface and a rear surface. The protective cover is made of a transparent material. The protective cover has a front surface and a rear surface. The rear surface of the protective cover is painted. The protective cover covers the front surface of the mounting bracket, and the rear surface of the protective cover faces the front surface of the mounting bracket. The color on the rear surface of the protective cover does not fade and is protected against scratches and abrasions.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to devices used in environmental engineering, and more particularly to an air conditioner.

BACKGROUND

A conventional air conditioner includes a body, a filter, and a front panel. The filter is detachably mounted on the body. The front panel is a single-skin structure, usually formed in a single injection molding operation, and a paint is applied to the front surface of the front panel. The front panel is pivotally mounted on the body. The front panel can be pivoted to a closed position to cover the filter, and can be pivoted to an open position to uncover the filter so as to allow a user to remove and clean the filter. However, the paint or other cosmetic addition to the front surface of the front panel fades due to conditions of the working environment, and may be scratched or abraded during manipulation of the front panel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an air conditioner front panel.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the air conditioner front panel of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the exemplary embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the exemplary embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. Also, the description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the exemplary embodiments described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts may be exaggerated to better illustrate details and features of the present disclosure.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, an exemplary embodiment of an air conditioner front panel with two-layer structure includes a support frame 1 and a protective cover 2.

The support frame 1 has a mounting bracket 11. With reference to FIG. 3, the mounting bracket 11 has a front surface 111, a rear surface 112, an outer flange 113, a plurality of openings 114, a plurality of inner flanges 115, and a recess 116. The outer flange 113 extends from the front surface 111 around a periphery of the front surface 111. The openings 114 are formed from the front surface 111 to the rear surface 112. Each inner flange 115 extends from the front surface 111 around one of the openings 114. The recess 116 is defined between the outer flange 113 and the inner flanges 115. A hot melt adhesive 3 is applied in the recess 116, and the outer flange 113 and the inner flanges 115 prevent leakage of the hot melt adhesive 3.

The protective cover 2 is made of a bright transparent material. The protective cover 2 has a front surface 21 and a rear surface 22. The front surface 21 is bright and transparent. The rear surface 22 can be painted with different colors according to different requirements. The color on the rear surface 22 can be clearly seen through the front surface 21. The protective cover 2 covers the front surface 111 of the mounting bracket 11. The rear surface 22 of the protective cover 2 faces the front surface 111 of the mounting bracket 11. The support frame 1 and the protective cover 2 are bonded by the hot melt adhesive 3.

The color on the rear surface 22 of the protective cover 2 does not fade due to environmental conditions, and not be scratched or abraded during manipulation of the air conditioner front panel. Thus, the color shown by the air conditioner front panel lasts longer. In addition, the air conditioner front panel with two-layer structure including the support frame 1 and the protective cover 2 provides high structural strength.

In the present exemplary embodiment, a thickness T of the outer flange 113 of the mounting bracket 11 is 1.5 mm and a thickness T1 of the inner flange 115 is also 1.5 mm. The mounting bracket 11 has a rectangular shape in front view and a curved shape in side view. The protective cover 2 includes a front wall 23 and a peripheral wall 24 extending rearward from the front wall 23. The front wall 23 has a rectangular shape in front view and a curved shape in side view. The shape of the front wall 23 corresponds to the shape of the mounting bracket 11.

The support frame 1 further has two pivot members 12 disposed at upper ends of two sides of the rear surface 112 of the mounting bracket 11. The air conditioner front panel can thus be pivoted relative to an air conditioner body (not shown) to an open position.

The support frame 1 further has two hook members 13 disposed at lower ends of the two sides of the rear surface 112 of the mounting bracket 11. The air conditioner front panel can thus be engaged with the air conditioner body to a closed position.

The exemplary embodiments shown and described above are only examples. Many details are often found in the art such as the other features of a device operating under adverse working conditions. Therefore, many such details are neither shown nor described. Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present technology have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the present disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in the detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of the parts within the principles of the present disclosure, up to and including the full extent established by the broad general meaning of the terms used in the claims. It will therefore be appreciated that the exemplary embodiments described above may be modified within the scope of the claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An air conditioner front panel with two-layer structure, comprising: a support frame having a mounting bracket, and the mounting bracket having a front surface and a rear surface; and a protective cover made of a transparent material, and the protective cover having a front surface and a rear surface; wherein the rear surface of the protective cover is painted with a color; and wherein the protective cover covers the front surface of the mounting bracket, and the rear surface of the protective cover faces the front surface of the mounting bracket.
 2. The air conditioner front panel of claim 1, wherein the mounting bracket has: an outer flange extending around a periphery of the front surface of the mounting bracket; and a recess defined in the outer flange; and wherein a hot melt adhesive is applied in the recess, and the support frame and the protective cover are bonded by the hot melt adhesive.
 3. The air conditioner front panel of claim 2, wherein the mounting bracket has a plurality of openings and a plurality of inner flanges, each inner flange extends around one of the openings, and the recess is defined between the outer flange and the inner flanges.
 4. The air conditioner front panel of claim 2, wherein a thickness of the outer flange of the mounting bracket is 1.5 mm.
 5. The air conditioner front panel of claim 3, wherein a thickness of the outer flange of the mounting bracket is 1.5 mm and a thickness of the inner flange is also 1.5 mm.
 6. The air conditioner front panel of claim 1, wherein the mounting bracket has a rectangular shape in front view and a curved shape in side view; and wherein the protective cover has a front wall and a peripheral wall extending rearward from the front wall, and the front wall corresponds to the mounting bracket and has a rectangular shape in front view and a curved shape in side view.
 7. The air conditioner front panel of claim 2, wherein the mounting bracket has a rectangular shape in front view and a curved shape in side view; and wherein the protective cover has a front wall and a peripheral wall extending rearward from the front wall, and the front wall corresponds to the mounting bracket and has a rectangular shape in front view and a curved shape in side view.
 8. The air conditioner front panel of claim 3, wherein the mounting bracket has a rectangular shape in front view and a curved shape in side view; and wherein the protective cover has a front wall and a peripheral wall extending rearward from the front wall, and the front wall corresponds to the mounting bracket and has a rectangular shape in front view and a curved shape in side view.
 9. The air conditioner front panel of claim 1, wherein the support frame further has two pivot members disposed at upper ends of two sides of the rear surface of the mounting bracket.
 10. The air conditioner front panel of claim 2, wherein the support frame further has two pivot members disposed at upper ends of two sides of the rear surface of the mounting bracket.
 11. The air conditioner front panel of claim 3, wherein the support frame further has two pivot members disposed at upper ends of two sides of the rear surface of the mounting bracket.
 12. The air conditioner front panel of claim 6, wherein the support frame further has two pivot members disposed at upper ends of two sides of the rear surface of the mounting bracket.
 13. The air conditioner front panel of claim 7, wherein the support frame further has two pivot members disposed at upper ends of two sides of the rear surface of the mounting bracket.
 14. The air conditioner front panel of claim 8, wherein the support frame further has two pivot members disposed at upper ends of two sides of the rear surface of the mounting bracket.
 15. The air conditioner front panel of claim 1, wherein the support frame further has two hook members disposed at lower ends of two sides of the rear surface of the mounting bracket.
 16. The air conditioner front panel of claim 2, wherein the support frame further has two hook members disposed at lower ends of two sides of the rear surface of the mounting bracket.
 17. The air conditioner front panel of claim 3, wherein the support frame further has two hook members disposed at lower ends of two sides of the rear surface of the mounting bracket.
 18. The air conditioner front panel of claim 6, wherein the support frame further has two hook members disposed at lower ends of two sides of the rear surface of the mounting bracket.
 19. The air conditioner front panel of claim 7, wherein the support frame further has two hook members disposed at lower ends of two sides of the rear surface of the mounting bracket.
 20. The air conditioner front panel of claim 8, wherein the support frame further has two hook members disposed at lower ends of two sides of the rear surface of the mounting bracket. 